Her Secret Odyssey

It is a cool October day in the city of Belton, Ohio. Young Josee waits for the school bus with her mom. She hopes it doesn't come; she wants to stay home so badly. But she hears the rumble and brakes of the bus. She hugs her mom and climbs aboard.

Since the beginning of the school year, Josee has been the victim of bullying. She tries to make it stop but is unsuccessful. She is too afraid to ask for help because of threats from the three bullies. After a while, she just gives up. Her life is overtaken by extreme fear and anxiety. Her classwork plummets, her friendships dissolve, and her relationship with her parents is falling apart.

That particular day, to her shock and surprise, magically the bus delivers her to École St. Etienne (St. Stephen's School), in France. At first Josee is petrified, but by the end of the school day, she realizes that she is feeling somewhat safe. When she is invited to attend classes there for a while, she accepts, but has to agree to keep the French school a secret from her parents and classmates.

Leading a double life is very challenging and tricky. Josee gets into many unusual situations mixing reality with fantasy. especially with her parents. But she makes it work because her new school is going to teach her how to calm her fears, to catch up on her schoolwork, and regain her self-confidence.

Sometimes, making progress in her studies is difficult and stressful, but her teachers are patient and supportive. She also does many fun things at school, like learning French, dining in the fancy cafeteria, daily walks in nature, and playing on the swings. She is encouraged by the school staff and the students. She is taught calming techniques also, like breathing exercises and visualization. She loves the new friends, both kids and grownups, that she makes, and the special field trips the school plans for her.

Josee is not a boring child. She is caring, sensitive, curious, and spontaneous. She often surprises the people around her by her sudden and unexpected words and actions. At first, she is embarrassed by these incidents, but after a while, she can laugh at herself too.

As she gets better, she finds it more and more difficult to hide her fantasy life from her parents. Maybe going to school in France is coming to an end.

Follow Josee through her unique adventure to wellness. What interesting situation will she get herself into next? And above all, does she find a way to solve her bullying problem?